The company, founded in January 2009 and whose headquarters are located in the Chinese capital, has become the fifth partner of the Organising Committee.

The deal was signed at a ceremony at Beijing 2022's headquarters, attended by officials including Beijing 2022 executive vice-president and vice-mayor of the city Zhang Jiandong and vice-president Lu Yong.

According to the Xinhua news agency, Zhang said the agreement would help Beijing 2022 "build more connections" in and outside of the country during the Games.

Zhang also stressed the benefits for China Unicom in partnering with the Organising Committee.

In response, China Unicom chairman Wang Xiaochu promised the company would provide the best possible services to help connect the athletes, spectators and television viewers.

He also vowed to ensure they will connect a "hospitable" China with the rest of the world.

The news provides a boost to Beijing 2022 with over four years to go until the city stages the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Other Organising Committees such as Pyeongchang 2018 struggled to sign official partners in the early stages of their preparations but Beijing 2022 now boast a sponsorship portfolio of five.

Beijing 2022 sponsors so far include the Bank of China and Air China.

Yili Group signed up as the official dairy products supplier and ANTA became the official sports apparel partner in September.

The announcement of the sponsorship agreement with the communications company comes after the logos for the 2022 Olympics and Paralympics were unveiled earlier this month.